Bakery Department Manager

Socket.dev; Vermillion (SD); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Hy-Vee is seeking a Bakery Department Manager to lead a busy bakery, ensuring product quality, cleanliness, and customer satisfaction. You will coach a team, manage schedules, and partner with store leadership to meet department goals.

The role requires strong communication, organizational and people-management skills, with a focus on safety, sanitation, and exceptional service in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Customer service focus and ability to lead a team in a fast-paced bakery environment.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills to handle daily challenges.
• Knowledge of health, safety, and sanitation practices in a retail bakery.

Responsibilities

• Set department standards for service, cleanliness, and profitability.
• Lead and develop bakery staff; handle performance matters as needed.
• Schedule staffing and coordinate with store leadership on goals.
• Oversee ordering, pricing, invoicing, and product displays.
• Analyze sales trends and plan promotions to drive results.

Skills

Customer service

Team leadership

Communication

Decision making

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bakery/retail management experience

Sanitation training

Job description

At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.

Job Description:

Job Title: Bakery Department Manager

Department: Bakery

FLSA: Hourly

Revision Date: 07/2026

About Hy-Vee

At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking people with a passion for customer service, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to being part of a team that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.

The Role and Why It’s Important

At Hy-Vee, our Bakery Department Managers are the heartbeat of one of our most beloved departments. In this role, you’ll set the tone for everything; from the quality of the products on the shelf to the experience customers have when they walk through your department. You’ll lead a team, build relationships, and make sure every visit to the bakery leaves customers smiling.

If you’re someone who leads by example, takes pride in quality, and loves creating an environment where both your team and customers feel valued, this role was made for you.

What You’ll Do

No two shifts are exactly the same, but here’s what you can expect:

• Set and uphold department standards for customer service, cleanliness, sanitation, team relations, and overall profitability

• Build a friendly, welcoming atmosphere by encouraging your team to greet and engage with customers and leading by example

• Assist customers with finding products, reaching items, carrying heavy purchases, and going the extra mile to make their visit a great one

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate department employees, and handle performance and disciplinary matters as needed

• Coordinate scheduling, daily work plans, and department goals in partnership with store leadership

• Oversee ordering, replenishment, pricing, invoicing, and bookkeeping for the department

• Analyze weekly and monthly sales trends, prepare ad projections, and plan promotions and displays

• Ensure proper product temperatures, storage procedures, and freshness standards to minimize shrink

• Understand and troubleshoot bakery equipment and coordinate maintenance as needed

• Conduct department inventory and manage product pre-orders

• Maintain compliance with Hy-Vee’s dress code, hygiene standards, and all company policies

• Assist in other store areas and take on special projects as needed

• You’ll receive direction and support from: District Store Director, Store Manager, and Assistant Manager of Perishables, Store Operations, and Health Wellness Home

Your Skills

To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be able to:

• Deliver outstanding customer service and inspire your team to do the same

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team in a fast-paced retail environment

• Solve practical problems and make sound decisions with a variety of variables

• Use basic math skills, including fractions, decimals, and percentages

• Communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally, with customers, employees, and vendors

• Handle confidential information, including employee compensation, sales data, and inventory reports, with discretion

• One or more years of related work experience preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required

Reporting Relationships

Accountable and Reports to: Store Director, Store Manager, Assistant Manager of Perishables, Store Operations, and Health Wellness Home

Direct Reports: Department Employees

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required

• One or more years of related bakery or retail management experience preferred

• Completion of sanitation courses or on-the-job training in food safety is a plus

Physical Requirements

• Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance

• Continuously stand and walk on hard surfaces for extended periods

• Where applicable to the role: ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment (required operator certification must be completed prior to independent use)

• Work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods

• Where applicable to the role: ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product

• Where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements: operate a cardboard baler or compactor

• Where applicable to the role: perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing

• Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise

Working Environment

This is a fast-moving, hands-on role where no two days are the same. You may work in areas with temperature changes or damp conditions, which is pretty typical for a bakery environment. The role involves working with and around standard bakery and store equipment and may include exposure to electrical equipment, cleaning products, or solvents. Safety is always a priority, and training is provided to help ensure a safe and supportive work environment.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.